Hog an



(No Modem G. W.I HOGAN.

'FRUIT AND NUT GATHBR-ER.

Patented Jan. 6, 1885.

l VITJVESSES Unirse raras Partnr Ormes.

GEORGE VASHINGTON HOGAN, OF BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS.

FRUIT AND NUT GATHERER.

Application tiled September T, lsr'i.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. HOGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bentonville, in the county of Benton and State ot Arkansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit and NutGatherers, of which the following is aspecilication, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, wherei ny Figure l is a perspective viewof the invention, showing it in position around a tree. Fig. 2 isavertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional viewraken through the truuk ofthe tree on aline above the gatherer. Myinvent-ion relates to that class ot' fruit and nut gatherers wherein thefalling fruit after being severed from the tree is intercepted on itsway to the ground by an inclined plane,4 of canvas or other iiexiblematerial,

breaking its fall, preventing it from being bruised, and guiding it tosome convenient place for collection. In former devices of this generalcharacter it has been customary to give such an inclination to thecanvas body that the fruit, de, should enter a spout arranged at thelowermost point of its sag, and from thence be discharged upon theground at one sideot the tree or into some chosen receptacle.

The object of my device is to gather the fruit and distribute ituniformly about the base ot' the tree where the ground is ordinarilydry, and where it will be protected fully by the foliage from the raysof the sun and from frost.

For this purpose the invention consists in certain peculiarities ot'structure, hereinafter described, and particularly pointed outin theclaim.

Referring to the drawings hereunto annexed, and the designating-lettersmarked thereon, A represents a fruit or nut tree, and B a band-strap,vsecured about the base of the tree firmly by means of a buckle or otheranalogous fastening. The said band is perforated at regular distancesthroughout its length, and through said.perforations extend the innerends of a series of ropes, D. rIhese ropes or cords extend radiallyoutward from the belt and pass through a series of eyelets, F, arrangednear the inner edge of a circular canvas apron, C. The open spacebetween the inner edge ot' the apron and the belt can be regulated by4drawing the cords D a greater ECIEICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 310,429, dated January 6, 1885.

(No model.)

or less distance through the eyelets and tying knots F in such cords.This adjustment is eli'ected before the belt is attached to the tree,and adapts the device to various kinds and sizes ot' t'ruit. The apron Cis composed of a number of strips of canvas or like material overlappingeach other and united by sewing or otherwise, except at the adjoiningedges H, where they are separated. Along these edges the apron isadapted to bejoined, so as to t'orm a continuous surface by means of theeo rds I I and intermediate hooks and eyes, .I J. At its outer peripherythe apron is provided with a series of pointed supports, I{,j0ined tothe peripheral edge by means of the iieXible strips L. The supports arebeveled at M to secure a better engagement with the strips.

The. parts being constructed as described, the operation ot my inventionis as follows: The apron is spread upon the ground beneath the tree andaround it, the supports or stays being pointed toward the tree-trunk.The strap-band B is then buckled around the trunk about twelve oreighteen inches from the ground, or may be nearer the ground. The radialcords D are then adjusted to suit the size and kind of fruit to begathered, the opening between the trunk of the tree or strap-band' andthe inner edge of the apron being narro wed or widened at will to suitthe exigencies ot' the case. rIhe edges II ot` the apron are then joinedby means ot' the cords I I and hooks and eyes J J', and the suports orstays K fixed iirnily in the earth, their pointed ends inclining towardthe tree. In this position the supports balance each other and maintainthe device in an upright position. The grade ot` descent of the aprontoward the tree may be regulated by moving the pointed ends of the staysinwardly or outwardly from the trunk, according as the iiow or descentof fruitis too rapid or too slow. Provision is also made to preventcareening ot the gatherer in consequence of wind or the fall of a showerof fruit upon one side of the apron, by attaching guyropes to the outerperiphery at, say, three points, as nearly equidistant from each otheras practicable, the outer ends of these guyropes being anchored to theground by means of hardwood pins.

rIhe fruit is shaken or otherwise detached from the tree, and passingdown the inclined IOO sides of the apron passes through the spacebetween the tree-trunk and theinner edge of the apron, and forms a pileor hea-p about the sides of the trunk andat the very central point ot'protection by the foliage. In this position, if exposed for any lengthof time, it is at the most advantageous point for safety against thedrying or desiccating effects of the sun and the blight of frost,and theground being much drier at the foot of the tree the liability ofthefruit to rot is greatlylessened. Then the gatherer is to be removed toanother tree the guys are loosened and the ropes I I and hooks and eyes.I J undone. The gatherer thereupon falls to the ground. The strap isthen unbuckled and two persons, commencing at the free edges H of theapron, walk, one to the right and the other to the left, about the treegathering up the canvas and stays on the way until they meet at theopposite side ofthe trunk. They then walk side by side to the next tree,where, by a reverse motion, the canvas is spread out about the latterand again setup, as hereinbefore described. It is evident that the sizeof the central aperture may be lessened, il' desired, by carrying one ofthe free edges H beyond the other and fastening it in its over lappedposition. This is advantageous, moreover, when a greater pitch orincline to the apron is desired than can be given bythe stays alone.

If for any reason it should become advisable to use the gatherer asareceptacle for the falling fruit, this result may be secured by merelyplacing an annular piece oi' canvas upon the cords D, closing therebythe central opening.

Vlith the finer grades or qualities of fruit. to prevent bruising bystriking against the tree-trunk, the latter may be provided with acushion placed around its base beneath the apron.

I am aware that it is not new to arrange a canvas receptacle under atree to intercept the falling fruit before it rea-ches the ground; butsuch receptacles have generally been sus pended froni the trees orsupported by props, the., and have spouts to permit the fruit to fallthrough, while niine has an adjustable central opening andflexibly-connected adjustable supports, and the construction is alsodifferent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

As an improvement in fruit-gatherers, the combination of the belt, thecircular apron, the series of supports or stays iiexibly connected withthe outer periphery thereof, whereby the inclination of said apron maybe varied at will, the inner periphery providedwith a series of eyelets,and being disposed some distance from the belt, and a series of radialcords extending from the belt to and through the saidY eyelets andknotted at the face otthe apron, these cords being adjustable in theperforations to regulate the distance between the apron and the tree,substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as niy own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO RGE WASHINGTON HOGAN.

V tn esses:

ALEX. G. BLACK, C. C. HUFFMAN.

